Review on Fizik X5 Artica Men's Shoes - Sleek and Stylish in Black by Mark Young

These shoes are amazing. I suffered from toe numbness in summer shoes (with double socks and shoe covers). No longer! I would compare the warmth and waterproofing to a ski or snowboard boot; You'll still get chills on the coldest of days, but they're definitely good for what they're made for. The five stars are for the shoes, not the buying experience. I ordered men's size 12 because when I clicked on that size it came up as "Fizik X5 Artica 43 Shoes Black (X5ARTIC18-1010-43)". I usually wear a size 41 and figured I could work with a size 43 because they are SUPER discounted (as low as $67). I wasn't sure if I was going to get a 12 or a 43, but I gave it a try with free return shipping. I was thrilled when the 43s arrived but if I really needed the men's 12s I would be very disappointed. The increase allowed me to fit my socks with an extra insole (any extra compartment in the boot is good!) (a very thin synthetic layer and a layer of SmartWool). This system worked and I still had room for toe warmers should I need them. They are obviously too big compared to what would be perfect - if I weren't looking for discounts my normal size (41) or one size up (42) would be perfect. Dimensional issues aside, big thanks to Physicist for making this possible. I can ride in the middle of winter!